FARO As-Built for AutoCAD 2022.2
by FARO TechnologiesFARO As-Built for AutoCAD enables you to model as-built data across a variety of industry applications within your familiar AutoCAD design tools.
CAD revolutionized architectural design in the 1980s by introducing digital tools that replaced traditional drafting methods. CAD (Computer-Aided Design) can be considered the first technical revolution in architectural design, while BIM (Building Information Modeling) can be seen as the second. CAD remains a fundamental component of the design process and continues to be widely used alongside BIM. This means that BIM did not replace CAD, but rather complemented it.
CAD (Computer-Aided Design) literally refers to the use of computer technology to assist in design. But “Computer-Aided Design” has become quite a broad term over time, and today it’s often necessary to specify the context or domain when referring to CAD to provide clarity regarding its application. It is primarily used for creating 2D or 3D designs, particularly for technical and precise design work.
The adoption of CAD represented a significant shift in how architectural projects were conceived, documented, and communicated, marking the beginning of the digital era in architectural design. While CAD started as a digital version of a drafting table, its capabilities and functionalities have expanded into fields such as 3D modeling, simulation, analysis, and integration with BIM and other technologies and systems.
Today, the CAD software market is faced with the emergence of free and open-source CAD software. Although it has evolved over time, some people might feel that CAD has not changed much since the 1990s because the fundamental principles of CAD – creating 2D or 3D designs on a computer – have remained the same.
File formats. The most widely used CAD format is DWG (Drawing). Developed by Autodesk, it is native to AutoCAD and is compatible with various CAD software applications. The other commonly used CAD file formats include two open standard formats developed by Autodesk – DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) and DWF (Design Web Format), other open standard formats for exchanging CAD files – STP/STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product Data) and IGS/IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification), DGN (Design, native to Bentley’s MicroStation), SAT (Standard ACIS Text), and STL (Stereolithography, commonly used for 3D printing).
FARO As-Built for AutoCAD enables you to model as-built data across a variety of industry applications within your familiar AutoCAD design tools.
Bentley View as a free viewer for DWG, IFC, DGN, i-models with tools to search for objects, measure distances and areas, and print drawings to scale.
CorelCAD is a 2D drafting and 3D design software that helps AEC and manufacturing professionals to enhance their visual communication.
GstarCAD is an alternative CAD software of high compatibility with AutoCAD. The first version of GstarCAD is released in 2003 by Chinese company Gstarsoft.
MicroStation is a 2D and 3D CAD software developed by Bentley. It is one of the industry standards, the other one being AutoCAD.
ARES Commander is a 2D and 3D CAD software using its own technology as a platform. It is developed by Germany-based Graebert.
ParkCAD is a CAD-based software for designing multiple variations of parking layout options to determine the best solutions for the location and purpose.
DWG FastView for Mobile is an easy-to-use CAD viewer and editor for Android and iOS devices. Share your drawings anytime and anywhere.
FreeCAD is a parametric 3D modeling software that is open-source and can be used for commercial use. It provides both CAD and BIM functionalities.
DraftSight Premium is a 2D CAD drafting and 3D design solution with time-saving functionalities and an API to help you create professional-grade drawings.